Disney Vacation Club adjusts 2010 Vacation Points charts

[keishashadow]

I just got off the phone with my guide who has been with DVC for a very long time. He told me that Disney pulled the point charts because they were not the final version. He told me to post that you should not rely on those charts. He said that they are still working on the charts and they should be out in the next couple of weeks. He expects some changes but was told by higher up that the published charts were not the final version. Stay tuned.....

isn't 11 month window for Jan in 10 days or so really may mess some folks up w/marathon plans etc. late to scramble for points...

thinly disguised effort to beef up addons imo , must be lots of ROFRd points layiing about or perhaps recent buyers just walking away due to economic downturn

as for me, will result in:

* pony'ing up some $ for yet another small addon

* not stressing so much about arriving on a Saturday , adjusting travel dates/split stays either on or off site

or (gasp)

paring down to 1 trip a year or less

 

[erionm]

Question? Since the 11-month winddow for January 2010 opens in 10 days, wouldn't the points charts have to be finalized and "official" by then? Can they change the point requirements after booking has begun for that year? If that is the case, I am going to try and make it through the next 10 days before I make any downgrades to my 2009 trip.

The night of 1/1/2010 could be included on a reservation made on 1/26 as the last night of a 12/26/09 to 1/2/10 stay.

 

[DebbieB]

Don't bet your life on it. These are a done deal....as was previously posted, it seems a "technical" error was made and these were released prematurely.

Why is it that a huge company like Disney is always having some kind of "technical problem"? The first BLT points chart had a glaring error on it - lake view was more than MK view for some dates.

I think if they were making these changes for 2010, it should have been announced no later than last summer, not less than a week before 2010 reservations start.

 

[dzorn]

Disney may or may not benefit, but that shouldn't even matter. The purpose of the points charts is to balance demand. These changes suggest that the weekend points have been disproportionately high and that the Concierge category at AKV was priced too low (comments here suggest that concierge went up across the board but I haven't actually looked myself. )

As a whole members may not like it...but you can't always go by majority rule. Heck, if we polled members I bet we could get a majority vote to LOWER the weekday costs further than they were.

Disney may not even like these changes. Clearly they are going to have a harder time marketing to budget-seekers and there will be a lot of upset members in general.

But DVCMC has a fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interest of the Condo Association(s) as a whole. You can't use surveys and member feedback to judge whether this reallocation was necessary. If weekend occupancy is a shadow of that during weekdays, something has to change. And unfortunately the only way to lower weekend costs is to raise weekdays.

On a weekly basis concierge stayed mostly the same.

Studios all seasons same or lower
One bed One season +2 another -3
Two Bed 2 seasons +1 one season -3

The week day is higher but over all weekly not much difference. I do wonder how many concierge rooms are usually empty on the weekend.

Denise in MI

 

[ldo]

OK--I was a points saver and bought for sun-thur stays---so I am bummed-messes up my Spring 2010--we will have to stay a day less. I, personally, thoguht that the the SUn-THur. WAS the "best kept secret."

But, 2X the points for weekends was ridiculous. Look at WDW hotels, they implemented a weekend surcharge last year, but it is $10-$20 more for Friday SAt, not double the price.
I agree that more warning should have been given, but I don't see any sinister rationale behind the re-allocation. The only savings that DVC makes is lessening turnover and in maid fees--which, We as members pay in our dues anyway. They don't "make" any $ from higher weekday points---the points are the same--just allocated differently--and some (like me) will lose, and others (weekenders) will win and many (who vacation for a full week) will be unaffected.
IMHO, it is really the duty of DVC to reallocate--if more people are choosing to NOT stay on weekends (b/c of higher points), then they have lower demand and need to readjust points to match demand--and they can't lower weekend and keep weekdays the same. Just my 2 cents. Elaine

 

[Inkmahm]

That's only true from a total point count perspective. Unless you do weekends only or do multiple weekends in a single stay, you are losing. Sun-Thu folks are losing and 8-12 day stays (1 weekend) are losing. I wouldn't call that neutral. It's a negative change because weekends are cheaper, but still considerably more than weekdays.

And those staying 5 or 6 days including a weekend are gaining. Points are less for our trips. And yes, on a total point count it is neutral. On an individual level, I can't see it being heavily weighted towards good or bad for individual members, either.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

They don't "make" any $ from higher weekday points---the points are the same--just allocated differently--and some (like me) will lose, and others (weekenders) will win and many (who vacation for a full week) will be unaffected.

Actually even many of the weekly stays saw some adjusments, plus or minus. When Disney sells based how many days you want to stay in what season and in how big of a room, making changes like this are really poor customer service, something Disney is suppose to be great at.

 

[Cindaddy]

OK--I was a points saver and bought for sun-thur stays---so I am bummed-messes up my Spring 2010--we will have to stay a day less. I, personally, thoguht that the the SUn-THur. WAS the "best kept secret."

But, 2X the points for weekends was ridiculous. Look at WDW hotels, they implemented a weekend surcharge last year, but it is $10-$20 more for Friday SAt, not double the price.
I agree that more warning should have been given, but I don't see any sinister rationale behind the re-allocation. The only savings that DVC makes is lessening turnover and in maid fees--which, We as members pay in our dues anyway. They don't "make" any $ from higher weekday points---the points are the same--just allocated differently--and some (like me) will lose, and others (weekenders) will win and many (who vacation for a full week) will be unaffected.
IMHO, it is really the duty of DVC to reallocate--if more people are choosing to NOT stay on weekends (b/c of higher points), then they have lower demand and need to readjust points to match demand--and they can't lower weekend and keep weekdays the same. Just my 2 cents. Elaine

Maybe. I would argue that, in my case, selling me a number of points based on a point chart that they know is going to change 4 months after the resort opens is, at least, unethical. Many people bought points based on a point chart over the years. If that chart is going to be changed at anytime, that is an improper sales method and the Guide should use another method of calculating points or recommend a cushion to the buyer. My guide told me that the point chart wouldn't change (I knew better thanks to the folks here).

 

[bethy]

Why is it that a huge company like Disney is always having some kind of "technical problem"? The first BLT points chart had a glaring error on it - lake view was more than MK view for some dates.

I think if they were making these changes for 2010, it should have been announced no later than last summer, not less than a week before 2010 reservations start.

In my personal experience, the larger the organization, the higher the risk for glitches and oversights like these. I say this with experience being on the receiving end AND with experience dishing it out.

 

[epcotwanderer]

Looks like our typical stays will be reduced 16 points.

Same for us. The only stay that will go up is our annual May trip and it's only by 1. I'll take that +1 for the -16 during our other stay.

 

[SamiL]

Okay, this is going to sound really alarmist (and it is). I was thinking, why didn't they bring this change in gradually, to let people get use to it.

Then I (well, the alarmist in me) thought: What if they are bringing in a change gradually and we're going to see more adjustment in the future. There really is a huge difference in the point cost for weekend stays and weekday stays and as a previous poster pointed out, you don't see a difference that big reflected in traditional hotel rooms. Whose to say this isn't the start of a long-range plan to even things out even more.

 

[pouncingpluto]

This is good for us, too. We tend to do either full week stays (which are about the same) or long weekends. If we ever stay longer than a week, it includes two weekends and probably no more weekdays (like a nine-night stay... a week plus the second weekend tacked on).

 

[alldiz]

ok--I may be dense, but I haven't really compared how this would affect me. I don't have a "typical" stay per se. But if some people's points are increased and some are decreased, how does this end up making money for Disney??? I understand why a lot of people are upset because their expectations are changed, but why would Disney do this? How does it benefit them?

I think they just figured out what was hardest to book....and they lowered those points...and raised them for easier booking times...ie....more booked rooms for disney.

Again, not trying to say what's right or wrong, what's fair or unfair, but while some people (sun-thurs DVC'ers or 8to10 night people) may/will decrease their stays, others who have to or like to use weekends for their trips may increase their stays.

Their goal is to have ~100% occupancy 365/7. They obviously aren't receiving that now, the weekends being the glaring example, hence the reallocation.

Seems that the 1BR people are being punished....the weekend point "reallocation" dosen't seem obvious at all....It's the 1BR increase....that is apparent to me.
Funny....I thought 2BR's were more popular
Kerri

 

[Megsmachine]

I am not trying to be a or get people riled up, but really this was an excellent business decision on Disney's part.

You aren't a DVC member because you like to go to Disney occasionally, you are a DVC member because you are a HUGE Disney fan, or an addict. It's not like you are going to say "thats it!! Iam done with Disney!!" They have you in the palm of their hand.

They are counting on members buying more points so they can continue coming to Disney. Heck they probably even know most people were going to be angry about it, but all the while they knew you'd have to get over it and find another way to make it work for you.

SO they upped the points, AND are making more money off of DVC'ers because you are going to have to buy more points. How are you going to find 1-25 points to buy?? Well you're (most likely) not! You are going to have to buy bigger add ons. SO now Disney is really putting more money in their pockets.

Oh I am sure they realize a few will try to re-sell their points, but all in all, currents DVC'ers that try to sell are not going to make any money off of that or even break even. And really, there are tons of new people lined up to buy
points that have no idea this happened, as it in no way affects them. Or at least they don't know what "used to be".

So you (DVC'ers) are caught between a rock and a hard place. DO you buy more to add on or do you sell for a loss? Or do you keep them and just go for fewer days?

 

[LisaS]

Or do you keep them and just go for fewer days?

Fewer trips overall since each trip now requires more points. There is no way I'm buying any more points from Disney. We'll just go less often or have shorter stays. And maybe sell one of our contracts and cut back by one trip per year. Probably eat more meals in the room to make up for the higher cost of the trip.

 

[keishashadow]

OK--I was a points saver and bought for sun-thur stays---so I am bummed-messes up my Spring 2010--we will have to stay a day less. I, personally, thoguht that the the SUn-THur. WAS the "best kept secret."

But, 2X the points for weekends was ridiculous. Look at WDW hotels, they implemented a weekend surcharge last year, but it is $10-$20 more for Friday SAt, not double the price.
I agree that more warning should have been given, but I don't see any sinister rationale behind the re-allocation. The only savings that DVC makes is lessening turnover and in maid fees--which, We as members pay in our dues anyway. They don't "make" any $ from higher weekday points---the points are the same--just allocated differently--and some (like me) will lose, and others (weekenders) will win and many (who vacation for a full week) will be unaffected.
IMHO, it is really the duty of DVC to reallocate--if more people are choosing to NOT stay on weekends (b/c of higher points), then they have lower demand and need to readjust points to match demand--and they can't lower weekend and keep weekdays the same. Just my 2 cents. Elaine

hmmm ...when i asked why the weekends were so much higher when i originally bought in, i was told it was to protect the interests the non-locals...otherwise, the weekends would be impossible to book as many Floridians (and others able to make short trips) would buy in specifically to book numerous long weekends as opposed to a weekly stay

guess we'll find out if those who feel confident in their ability to book a standard week (assuming they rn't booking @ 11 months, 10 days out, etc) start posting they've been shut out with any regularity

 

[WolfpackFan]

While I understand some people are very set in their ways on how & when they use their points, there is never ANY guarantee that what you want is going to be available when you want it.

I really take exception to this comment. It has absolutely nothing to do with being "set in our ways". It has to do with we have a finite number of points and this change is making our points less valuable. We have to be very careful how we use our points and that means taking vacations on Sun-Thurs, with an occasional Friday thrown in. But now we're finding our points will not allow us to do that anymore.

 

[kenny]

That's only true from a total point count perspective. Unless you do weekends only or do multiple weekends in a single stay, you are losing. Sun-Thu folks are losing and 8-12 day stays (1 weekend) are losing. I wouldn't call that neutral. It's a negative change because weekends are cheaper, but still considerably more than weekdays.

I have to disagree on this one. I think it would depend on your resort and time of year.

We typically go for 8-10 nights (9-11 days). We own at both SSR and BLT and get a 1 bedroom.

Adventure Season at SSR
8 nights in 2009 = 223 pts
8 nights in 2010 = 212 pts
10 nights in 2009 = 263 pts
10 night in 2010 = 256pts

Choice Season at SSR
8 nights in 2009 = 236 pts
8 nights in 2010 = 228 pts
10 nights in 2009 = 280 pts
10 night in 2010 = 276pts

Adventure Season at BLT MK View
8 nights in 2009 = 325pts
8 nights in 2010 = 323pts
10 nights in 2009 = 389pts
10 night in 2010 = 391pts

Choice Season at BLT
8 nights in 2009 = 343 pts
8 nights in 2010 = 342pts
10 nights in 2009 = 413 pts
10 night in 2010 = 414pts

At SSR we make out both ways. At BLT we make out at 8 days, it's at push at 9 days and it costs us 2 more pt at 10 days for Adventure Season, 1 more at Choice.

So it all depends on the season you travel and what resort. It's just a blanket that only shorter stay DVCer's benefit. Don't get me wrong, I am not happy about it costing a few more points at BLT but on the flip side I save at SSR.

Guess we'll have to wait and see what the final chart looks like.

 

[twebber55]

I am not trying to be a or get people riled up, but really this was an excellent business decision on Disney's part.

You aren't a DVC member because you like to go to Disney occasionally, you are a DVC member because you are a HUGE Disney fan, or an addict. It's not like you are going to say "thats it!! Iam done with Disney!!" They have you in the palm of their hand.

They are counting on members buying more points so they can continue coming to Disney. Heck they probably even know most people were going to be angry about it, but all the while they knew you'd have to get over it and find another way to make it work for you.

SO they upped the points, AND are making more money off of DVC'ers because you are going to have to buy more points. How are you going to find 1-25 points to buy?? Well you're (most likely) not! You are going to have to buy bigger add ons. SO now Disney is really putting more money in their pockets.

Oh I am sure they realize a few will try to re-sell their points, but all in all, currents DVC'ers that try to sell are not going to make any money off of that or even break even. And really, there are tons of new people lined up to buy
points that have no idea this happened, as it in no way affects them. Or at least they don't know what "used to be".

So you (DVC'ers) are caught between a rock and a hard place. DO you buy more to add on or do you sell for a loss? Or do you keep them and just go for fewer days?

actually for my family we lose a day at disney and they lose my money for tickets and DDP ....understand your point but just disagree

 

[jekjones1558]

Disney's MAJOR mistake is that this change is being done with too little notice. I agree with those who say that Disney has the fiduciary responsibility to have the DVC units filled 100% each night. In so far as they do not do this, all of us will have a hard time getting reservations for the dates that we want because the demand is not even. We all signed contracts stating that these changes are possible. Many of us expected that Disney would be respectful enough of members to make necessary changes to the point structure with a fair warning, to allow members to adjust their plans. My beef with Disney is not the changes, it is the short notice. I do NOT think Disney stands to gain revenue from this. DVC units CANNOT be empty on a regular basis on weekends. If weekend rooms are empty, then there will more demand for weekdays than there are rooms to meet the demand. IMPLEMENT THE NEW POINT STRUCTURE BEGINNING IN 2011, NOT 2010!